VENTURA : Transient Pleads Not Guilty to Rape
A 34-year-old transient entered a not guilty plea Tuesday to charges that he beat and raped an 84-year-old Port Hueneme woman in October.
John Paul Duggan remained silent during his arraignment in Ventura Superior Court as his attorney, Joel Steinfeld, entered the plea. Duggan will face a preliminary hearing Dec. 6.
For the record:
12:00 a.m. Nov. 28, 1991 For the Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday November 28, 1991 Ventura County Edition Metro Part B Page 4 Column 6 Zones Desk 1 inches; 30 words Type of Material: Correction
Wrong judge--The Times erred Tuesday in its identification of the judge who presided over the arraignment of rape suspect John Paul Duggan. Municipal Judge Barry B. Klopfer accepted Duggan’s not-guilty plea.
Deputy Dist. Atty. Lela Henke-Dobroth added two more felony counts of burglary and auto theft for offenses allegedly committed during his escape after the assault.
Duggan had previously been charged with a single count each of attempted murder, assault with injury, rape, mayhem and burglary.
Superior Court Judge Barry B. Klopfer ruled Tuesday that photographers for the news media may take still photographs of Duggan during the trial. Steinfeld opposed the request, saying that Duggan is a suspect in another case and that published photographs could influence witnesses to erroneously identify Duggan.
Duggan is a suspect in an assault case in Oxnard, Henke-Dobroth said.
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